A minor flood usually isn’t a particularly big deal in a home. There may be some repair work done, and it could rack up an unkind bill. But usually that’s about it. You can fix the problem and move on, and perhaps even take some steps to fortify the space against any kind of future flooding. But a major flood can be a much bigger problem.
If you’ve never experienced this sort of thing, try to consider it in more than just general terms. Imagine your basement or the lower level of your home not just wet, but filled with several inches or even a couple feet of water. Imagine that your furniture is submerged, that your electrical outlets have been flooded, and water has gotten into your air filter systems. Perhaps valuable carpets and rugs have been underwater for hours or days, wooden floors are being ruined, and electrical appliances have been destroyed. It’s not a pretty picture at all. In fact, it’s one of the very worst things that can happen to a homeowner.
So, provided everybody is safe, what can you actually do about it?
The natural first step is to seek out damage restoration, which can be an option even if things look particularly bad. That’s not to say everything can be salvaged, but there are companies that exist to get water out of the house, patch leaks, clean up, and generally restore the home as thoroughly as possible. In some cases it’s absolutely amazing what they can do, and how quickly they can do it. In a bad flooding disaster, this is something you’ll want to look into right away, no matter what other steps may follow.
Once you’ve looked into restoration, you will want to address your home. Hopefully the situation is such that you were never at any kind of risk. But you should also consider the idea that if your home was vulnerable to flooding, it may have sustained more minor water damage at other times. That means there could potentially be mold built up in hidden corners of your home, as is common after water damage. There’s no need to be alarmed, but you’ll want to take the time to research mold illness, make sure you’re not experiencing any symptoms, and if you are, look into who might be able to help. It shouldn’t be a major problem, but it can be if it goes unaddressed.
As you’re doing all of this, however, you should unfortunately start the process of looking for a new home as well. This is easier than it ever has been, given that there are home finders and aggregate sale posting sites all over the internet. That makes it easy for you to look for possibilities without actually having to get out and explore, while you’re still dealing with your damaged property. The hope is that this step will be unnecessary and your home can be properly restored. But in some cases damage can be so extensive that certain problems are irreparable, or that it makes just as much financial sense to start over. That doesn’t mean you should prematurely give up on your home, but it does mean it’s prudent to start looking.
It’s an awful problem, and the hope is that it never befalls you and your family. But if it does, you should be prepared to take these steps to move forward.
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